Improvement in bagasse-furnaces



fir 0. W. HAWK.

Bagasse-Purnace.

No.-21-4,387. Patented April 15,1879.

l m fi'i I L a a WWJJ w In veiuar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER W. HAWK, OF WHITE WATER, KANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BAGASSE-FURNACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 214.387, dated April 15, 1879 application filed January 15, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER W. HAWK, of White Water, in the county of Butler and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bagasse-Furnaces; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the furnaces employed in the evaporation of cane-juice for the production of sugars and sirups.

Its object is to produce a simply constructed furnace that shall effectively consume and utilize the bagasse or crushed material from which the juice has been extracted; and to this end it consists in combining, with a main furnace, over which the evaporator or boiler is situated, two supplemental furnaces of a peculiar construction,- communicating with the main furnace, and extending in the same direction, substantially.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved bagasse furnace. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line of the top edge of the grates.

In the drawings, A represents the main furnace, which, in conformation, is substantially similar to those now in use, provided at the rear end with a chimney, which also may be of any desired construction.

B represents the door in the front end of the main furnace, for the manipulation of the fire therein.

0 0 represent the supplemental wing-furnaces, connected to and communicating with the main furnace A at its front corners, respectively. These wing-furnaces are slightly curved inward, and are so situated as to leave sufficient space between them for the convenient approach to the main furnace. They are provided at their inner ends with grates E E, preferably on a level with the grate F of the main furnace.

G G are shelves or floors in the front end of the wing furnaces, on a level with the grates E E.

H H are passages beneath the shelves G G and grates E E, for the entrance and circulation of air, connecting with the air-passage I of the main furnace.

Each of the wings should at the front end expand from a line parallel with the main furnace, and should contract toward the rear or inner end.

The manner of operating the furnace in the evaporation of sirup or other articles is as follows: A strong fire of heavy fuel is first built on the grate F of the main furnace A, and after it is well burning the bagasse is thrust into the side furnaces by pushing it into the chamber above the shelves or floors G G, and sliding it forward until it is in close contact with the fire in the main furnace. Here, after being sufficiently heated, it is inflamed, and forms a mass of burning material upon the grates E E. After it is Well ablaze it is thrust into the main furnace, more bagasse having in the meantime been introduced, where it also has been heating and inflaming, preparatory to final combustion in the main furnace.

As the material has already begun to be consumed while on the grates E E, it is apparent that the resulting contraction in bulk would impair the efficacy of the furnace if it continued of the same diameter throughout. To obviate this I contract the fire-chamber, as

above described.

Not only does this construction enable me to readily heat and inflame the bag-asse preparatory to introducing it beneath the evaporator or boiler, but it also, on account of the modification-s in the currents of the hot air, enables me to retain the heat much longer beneath the front end of the vessel that is to be heated, which latter result, as is well known to those practically acquainted with'this class of devices, is a very important matter.

What I claim is In an evaporating or bagasse furnace, the combination, with the main furnace A, of the supplemental furnaces G G, provided with the shelves G G and with the grates E E, and arranged to contract toward their inner ends, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLIVER WASHINGTON HAWK.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH PORTER, WALLACE PORTER. 

